POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball team opened up State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play with a doubleheader sweep over SUNY Potsdam Saturday at Maxcy Softball Field, defeating the Bears in game one, 6-3, before prevailing in the nightcap, 9-3. Sophomore third baseman Bella Spadinger (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker) set the program's single-game record in doubles with three in game two, breaking the former mark of two that was achieved multiple times.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 8-8 overall (2-0 SUNYAC) with the wins and next hosts Oswego State in a home-opening doubleheader on Tuesday, April 9, at 2 p.m. Potsdam falls to 5-13 overall (0-4 SUNYAC) with the losses and next visits Clarkson University on Tuesday, April 9, for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
 
Game 1: Plattsburgh State 6, Potsdam 3
 
Plattsburgh State used a four-run seventh inning to earn its first lead of the game and retired the side in order in the home half of the frame to pull out the win.
 
The Bears opened scoring in the first, as junior pitcher Megan Fish and sophomore catcher Shelby Van Epps rapped out back-to-back RBI base hits to hand Potsdam a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals tied the game in the top of the fourth, as senior center fielder Amy Glashoff (Montrose, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) hit an RBI single to right before freshman first baseman Alex McKearin (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane) tied the game with an RBI single to second base.
 
An error allowed Potsdam's senior center fielder Brooke Falsion to cross in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Bears a 3-2 advantage. A Bear fielding miscue, however, allowed senior shortstop Kaitlyn Preiss (Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall) and freshman pinch runner Gabby Rodriguez (Albany, N.Y./Albany) to score in the top of the seventh to hand the Cardinals the lead, and junior right fielder Frannie Merkel (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) added insurance with a two-run double to left field.
 
Senior left fielder Jennifer Groat (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa), Glashoff and freshman pitcher Hannah Fuerst (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca East) all notched multiple hits for the Cardinals, with Groat going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two doubles, Glashoff batting 2-for-4 with an RBI and Fuerst going 2-for-3.
 
Fish paced the Bear attack by going 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Falsion (2-for-3, two runs scored), junior outfielder right fielder Lucy Condon (2-for-4, one run scored) and Van Epps (2-for-4, one RBI) also notched multiple hits.
 
Fuerst threw a complete game to earn the winning decision, allowing three runs (two earned) on 11 hits and two walks while striking out one. Fish was tagged with the loss for Potsdam, permitting six runs (three earned) on 10 hits and a walk while striking out one.
 
Game 2: Plattsburgh State 9, Potsdam 3
 
Plattsburgh State pounded out 14 hits in the nightcap and scored all of its runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to complete the sweep.
 
The Bears seized a 2-0 lead in the second, as sophomore shortstop Grace Folmsbee hit a two-run single to right center, but Plattsburgh State went out in front 3-2 in the fourth on the strength of RBI base hits from junior designated player Haleigh Agans (Brasher Falls, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central), Spadinger and McKearin.
 
Agans plated senior catcher Anna Fisher (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) with an RBI single and Spadinger drove in Agans with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, while four runs came across for the Cardinals in the seventh. Spadinger cleared the bases with a three-run double before McKearin scored Spadinger with an RBI single through the right side.
 
Potsdam got one back in the bottom of the seventh, as freshman left fielder Vanessa Brandt drove in Falsion, but Groat pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to seal the 9-3 win.
 
Spadinger went 3-for-3 with a program-record three doubles, five RBI and two runs scored to lead the Cardinals, while Agans batted 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Falsion, Brandt and Fish all had multiple hits for the Bears.
 
Groat hurled a complete game to earn the win, scattering 11 hits while allowing three runs. Potsdam used three pitchers in the loss, with senior pitcher Alissa McCauley being tagged with the losing decision.